"The first victory we can claim is that our hearts are free of hatred. Hence we say to those who persecute us and who try to dominate us: ‘You are my brother. I do not hate you, but you are not going to dominate me by fear. I do not wish to impose my truth, nor do I wish you to impose yours on me. We are going to seek the truth together’. THIS IS THE LIBERATION WHICH WE ARE PROCLAIMING."
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas (2002)

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Amnesty International recognizes Iván Fernández Depestre as a “Prisoner of Conscience”.

Iván Fernández Depestre who was arrested on July 30, 2013 and went on hunger strike for over a month protesting his unjust imprisonment recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience and is demanding his immediate release.

Iván Fernández Depestre: Prisoner of Conscience

11 September 2013

Cuba must immediately release prisoner of conscience

Authorities in Cuba must immediately and unconditionally release a
political activist imprisoned solely because of his political views,
Amnesty International said as it adopted Iván Fernández Depestre a
“Prisoner of Conscience”.

The 40 year-old political activist, was
arrested on 30 July in the central province of Villa Clara as he
peacefully participated in a public event to commemorate the anniversary
of the death of Cuban national hero Frank País.

“Iván Fernández
Depestre is being held only because he holds opinions contrary to those
of the Cuban authorities. He must be released immediately and
unconditionally,” said Javier Zúñiga, Special Advisor for Amnesty
International.

Mr Depestre was charged with “dangerousness”, a
pre-emptive measure defined as the “special proclivity of a person to
commit crimes” after he was accused of “meeting with antisocial
persons”. He had no access to a lawyer during his trial and was
sentenced to three years in jail on 2 August. He is currently on hunger
strike.

“The Cuban authorities seem to be using every trick in
the book to punish those who dare to speak up about human rights. They
are even using a law that punishes potential offences on account of
‘antisocial behaviour’ to imprison political dissidents, independent
journalists and government critics,” said Javier Zúñiga.

“It is a
sad reflection of the state of the rule of law in Cuba, when people are
convicted to prison terms not for what they have done but for what they
might do.”

On 4 September, local activists were arrested after
they went to meet Mr Depestre at the Guamajal prison. They were later
released.

Articles 78 to 84 of the Cuban Criminal Code established
that those convicted of “special proclivity to commit crimes” can be
sentenced to between one and four years of re-education in "specialized
work or study establishments" or sent to "a work collective".